• Rainbow Springs

• Lake Rotorua, the Government Gardens & bathhouse

• Te Puia Thermal Reserve

• The Lake District

• Evening Maori Cultural Hangi & Concert

Departs Rotorua 8.30 am on day two of T2C to Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand's most colourful geothermal area, and Lady Knox Geyser. We'll visit the Huka Falls, (optional jet boat ride), Honey Hive, and Wairakei Geothermal lookout, before arriving in Taupo beside the Great Lake. Bungy jump optional.  then on to the Waitomo Caves with a 45 minute guided tour.

ETA Auckland 7:30 pm.

Auckland - Rotorua

A pleasant drive south over the Bombay Hills into the rich dairy farmland of the Waikato and beside the Waikato River, before arriving in Cambridge, billed as our most English like town. It features stately oak trees, village green and historic St Andrews Anglican Church. A morning tea/coffee break is taken here.

Then it’s a short drive to Lake Karapiro and the hydro-electric power station on the Waikato River for a photo stop, before crossing over the dam. The majestic Mt Maungatautari  (Sanctuary Mountain) looms in the background. A mainland ecological island created by a 47km pest proof fence, the largest of it’s type in the world. Join an informative 1 ½ hour guided tour and learn about many of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered plants, insects, birds, fish, geckos, frogs, bats and flora that co-exist in this spectacular environment, on one of the many well maintained tracks to the 16mtr viewing tower.

A picnic lunch is included here.

Our scenic drive to Rotorua continues to impress as we climb over the southern end of the Kaimai Mamaku Ranges with it’s unique volcanic land forms, into Rotorua. We drive by Lake Rotorua, the Government Gardens & Bathhouse on our way to Te Puia Thermal Reserve for your guided tour of this diverse geothermal wonderland with it’s geysers, silica terraces, boiling mud pools and fumeroles.

You’ll also visit the live Kiwi house, the Maori Carving School and Weaving Centre. Our Rotorua sights continues out to the Lake District, visiting the Blue & Green Lakes and Lake Tarawera, viewing the once active Mt Tarawera from a prominent vantage point. We then check into your accommodation for a chance to refresh, before attending the evening Maori Hangi & Concert at Te Puia.  Here you’ll be treated to some traditional Maori song and dance, followed by a wide range of buffet style food.

Rotorua – Tongariro National Park

We depart Rotorua by 8:30 to Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand’s most colourful geothermal area.

Boiling springs and volcanic gases introduce numerous minerals into the water stream. These mineral elements account for the varied coloration of the numerous pools. The largest boiling mud pool in the southern hemisphere is also in the reserve. A short drive then to Lady Knox Geyser, where a local staff member gives a brief history of how it was discovered, before inducing it with soap to set it off.

Next stop, at Wairakei just above Taupo, is the Honey Hive and well worth a visit. With the country’s largest selection of artisan honey products, you’ll be tempted by an amazing array of 100% pure New Zealand free Manuka honey, mead and liqueur tastings, natural health and wellbeing products.

Just down the road are the Huka Falls (optional jet boat ride) on the Waikato River. Here the river narrows to just 15m, where more than 220,000 litres of water per second barrels over an 11m fall.

In Taupo we’ll visit a bungy jump (optional for the adrenaline junkies!) and general sights before lunch beside the Great Lake, which at 607 sq kms is the largest crater lake in the world. Its then a very pleasant drive around the southern shores of the lake, with many photo stop opportunities, but one particular bay in mind. As we approach Turangi, we pass the mouth of the world renown Tongariro River ( also referred to as the Upper Waikato River) and  crossing over. Anglers can often be seen wading in waste deep water hoping to catch another world record trout.  Leaving Turangi we climb over the Te Ponanga Saddle, elevation 795m, to descend as the vista of Tongariro National Park comes into view.

Tongariro National Park

Your stay for the next three nights is the Chateau Tongariro Hotel, where you can soak up mountain views and classic 1930s atmosphere, with high tea on offer, classic cocktails, live piano and even a cinema. There is also a nine hole golf course, fitness room, lounge billiards, a beauty and therapy spa, plunge pool and sauna. Not to mention getting to sleep on a live volcano!

Tongariro National Park is a UNESCO dual World Heritage area, New Zealand’s first in 1887 and the fourth in the world. There are three active volcanoes, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. With outstanding volcanic features, it is home to the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 17 km one day hike, Round the mountain track, Ruapehu Crater Lake walk and many other shorter walks near the Whakapapa Village, taken best during summer months.

Mt Ruapehu is home to New Zealand’s largest ski areas. During winter, June – August is the best time for skiing, but typically staying open until late October, early November.

Tongariro National Park – Waitomo -  Auckland

An 8:30 start has us heading in a west direction to the village of National Park, before turning north. This  is New Zealand’s highest urban township at 825m and sited beside the Main trunk railway line, Auckland – Wellington. Our scenic drive through high rolling farmland takes us through several small settlements before entering a region referred to as The King Country, named after the recalcitrant tribes of the Maori King Movement, with their Marae based in Te Kuiti.

At the Waitomo Glowworm Cave, your guide will take you into the Cathedral with it’s intriguing stalagmites and stalactites, witnessing the constellations of tiny shining glow worms, then emerging from this limestone grotto by boat. After which, our lunch stop is flexible, either local or a short drive into small town Otorohanga. Where you may be interested in a walk around the shops.

Our last stop before Auckland, are the Hamilton Gardens. Awarded The International Garden of The Year 2014, they are not technically a botanical garden, but rather 21 themed gardens representing the art, beliefs, lifestyles and traditions of different civilizations or historical gardens. Onto Auckland then.

ETA 18:30